Hera

Íra is one of the most important deities in all
of Ællinismόs (Hellenismos, Ἑλληνισμός),
the ancient Greek religion, and one of the Twelve Olympian Gods. Íra is
the daughter of Krónos (Cronus, Κρόνος) and
Rǽa (Rhea, Ῥέα), who, according
to the mythology, was swallowed by her father and later disgorged. She is
the sister of Æstía (Ἑστία), Dimítir(Δημήτηρ), Ploutohn
(Πλούτων), Poseidóhn
(Ποσειδῶν), and Zefs (Ζεύς), who,
together with her, are known collectively as the Kronídai (Κρονίδαι). Íra was reared by
Okæanós (Oceanus, Ὠκεανός) and Tithýs
(Tethys, Τηθύς) after Zefs
overthrew his father, although there are other traditions concerning her
upbringing.

The progeny of Íra

It is Zefs by whom she is the mother
of Áris (Ares, Άρης), Íphaistos (Hephaestus,
Ἥφαιστος), and Ívi (Hebe, Ἥβη).

Characteristics of the
Goddess Íra

Íra is often depicted in the
mythology as an angry wife, defending her marriage against what is portrayed as
Zefs' infidelity. She pursues and torments the recipients of
her husband's advances, including the resulting offspring, most
famously Iraklís (Heracles or Hercules, Ἡρακλῆς). While the mythology fabricates a negative impression of
the Goddess, her majesty and greatness of soul are ineffably prodigious. Don't
be deceived by the superficial story, for hidden within the mythology is a deep
meaning. When Íra pursues and
torments various Íroæs (Heroes, Ἥρωες) she is pushing their souls to greatness, for her ability in
this regard is abundant.

Íra is the Queen of the heavens, the sky, while
being the emanation of the second kozmogonic substance, Earth. The Derveni
Papyrus states that Earth (Γῆ), the
Mother (Μήτηρ), Rǽa (Ῥέα), Dimítir (Δημήτηρ) and Íra are one and the same. [1]

Íra, immaculate
and incorruptible, protects the institution of honorable marriage and
the fidelity by which it should be accompanied.

The cuckoo is sacred to Íra because
Zefs appeared to her in the form of this bird in order to seduce her. Other
animals sacred to the Goddess include the royal lion and the peacock.
Offerings of cakes in the shape of these animals would be very appropriate. Of
fruit, the pomegranate is sacred to her, for it represents fruitfulness and the
happiness and love of marriage. The Orphic hymn to Íra suggest an incense
offering of aromatics.

The Position of Íra and Zefs

Íra is the personalized, primordial evolution of Yi (Ge
= Earth, Γῆ); Zefs is the
personalized, primordial evolution of Ýdohr (Hydor = Water, Ὕδωρ). Earth and Water are the two
primordial kosmogonic substances, consequently, the mythology
depicts Íra and Zefs as brother and sister. The creative force of the Kózmos (Cosmos, Κόσμος) occurs because of the interaction of Earth and Water, hence Íra and Zefs are said to be married. Because of all these things, their position is supreme and all ritual concludes with homage to them.

"That Ocean(Ὠκεανός)is said to have married Tethys (Τηθύς), and Jupiter (Ζεύς) Juno (Ἥρᾱ), and the like, as establishing a communion with her,
conformably to the generation of subordinate natures. For an according
co-arrangement of the Gods, and a connascent (born together) co-operation in
their productions, is called by theologists marriage." (trans.
Thomas Taylor, 1816) [2]

Íra and Zefs are equals

Íra is the sister and lawful
wife of Ýpatos (supreme, Ὕπατος) Zefs (Ζεύς) and it is Íra to whom he
confides and whispers his secrets, for she is his equal:

“Hence Juno (Ἥρᾱ)
proceeds together with Jupiter (Ζεύς),
generating all things in conjunction with the father. Hence, too, she is said
to be equal in rank with Jupiter, as is likewise Rhea with Saturn (Κρόνος). For this Goddess is the bosom
of all the Saturnian (Kronian) power. Earth also is equal in dignity with
Heaven (Οὐρανός). For Earth is the
mother of all things, of which Heaven is the father.” (trans. Thomas
Taylor, 1820.) [3]

“But the Demiurgus (creator), who is the great Jupiter (Ζεύς), is conjoined with Juno (Ἥρᾱ). Hence also, she is said to be of
equal rank with him, and proceeds from the same fathers.” (trans. Thomas
Taylor, 1820) [4]

Íra and Zefs and the Thæogamía

The word Thæogamía (Theogamia,
Θεογαμία) means, generally, marriage
between Gods, but here we are speaking of the festival which celebrates the
marriage of Íra and Zefs, i.e., the union of the two kozmogonic
substances, Earth and Water.

The date of
the Thæogamía is disputed, perhaps 26 or
27 Gamilióhn (Gamelion, Γαμηλιών
- late January, in the month of Aquarius). The entire Attic month
of Gamilióhn, the “marriage month,” is dedicated to Íra.

Íra in Iconography

Íra is frequently depicted
seated on a throne, fully robed, wearing a diadem or a crown, usually with a
veil. She is regal and holds the royal lotus-tipped scepter. When traveling,
she can be seen in her chariot drawn by two horses. She is beautiful but
mature, with lovely large eyes, her hair gracefully arranged, her arms pure and
white.

In antiquity, the most celebrated
sanctuary of Íra lie at the foot of Mount Évvia (Euboea, Εὔβοια). In the temple, called the Iraion (Heraeum, Ἡραῖον), there stood a colossal statue
of the Goddess, a creation of the sculptor Polýkleitos (Polycleitus, Πολύκλειτος). It was constructed of gold
and ivory. Íra was seated wearing a crown adorned with the Kháritæs (Charities
or Graces, Χάριτες) and the Órai
(Horae = Seasons, Ὧραι). In one hand
she held the pomegranate, in the other she held a scepter crowned with a
cuckoo.

Íra may be seen in close
proximity to the royal lion, a cuckoo (the messenger of spring when she had
married Zefs), or a peacock.

Íra and the Three Vasíleiai

Íra is the final personalized, primordial evolution of the non-personal Yi (Ge
or Gaia, Γή, Γαῖα), Earth. This progression is represented by the Three
Vasíleiai (Basileiai or Queens, βασίλειαι,
plural of βασίλεια), the Three
Queens. The Three Vasíleiai along with their consorts are:

Íra rules the fifth Orphic
House, the month of Ydrokhóös (Aquarius, Υδροχόος) from January 21 through February 20, and her dominion is
the Natural Law of Ǽrohs (Eros or Divine Love, Ἔρως). [5] The Divine Consort of the Goddess Íra is her brother Zefs. The Orphic Hymns suggest the offering of aromatic herbs to Íra.

NOTES:

[1] Dærvǽni (Derveni, Δερβένι) Papyrus, Col. 22.

[2] Πρόκλος Commentary on
ΚρατύλοςΠλάτωνος,
found in The Theology of Plato/Proclus.

[5] This Ǽrohs is
not the sexual passion associated with Pándimos (Πάνδημος) Aphrodíti, who has dominion over Ἵμερος (Desire) and the
mundane Ἔρωτες (deities of love
and sexual desire). Íra has dominion over the pure kozmogonic Ǽrohs, the
attraction to Beauty, the divine love which draws Gods and mortals together.

The logo to the left is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase (Γῆς παῖς εἰμί καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος) are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the lyre of Apóllohn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).

PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as

, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information

DISCLAIMER:The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.

Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.